Similar species: The similar Atriplex prostrata differs by the shapes of its leaves, which are often toothed.

Flowering: August to September

Habitat and ecology: Introduced from Eurasia. Found in a wide variety of disturbed habitats, including lawns, gardens, parkways, and waste ground. May also be found along highways because it tolerates a high degree of salinity.

Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native

Etymology: Atriplex is the ancient Latin name for this plant. Patula means spreading.

Plants to 1(-1.5) m, erect and widely branched, or sometimes ±prostrate; lvs green especially on the upper side, the principal ones 4-12 cm, lanceolate to rhombic- hastate with a cuneate base; infls numerous, interrupted-spiciform, more continuous upwards, leafy- bracteate only near the base; fruiting bracteoles thin, foliaceous, joined near the base or almost to the middle, obscurely veined or only the midvein prominent, mostly 3-7 mm, ovate to more often rhombic- triangular or triangular-hastate, acute to acuminate, entire or with 1 or 2 short lateral teeth, smooth or with irregular appendages on the back; seeds dimorphic, some brown, 2.5-3.5 mm wide, others black, smaller, 1.2-3 mm wide; radicle ±inferior; mainly or wholly tetraploid on x=9. Widespread ruderal weed, only casually maritime, intr. from Eurasia. (A. acadiensis)